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Let me preface my comments by saying that I hate it when they replace actors with new ones in sequels. Having said that, I was nervous when I heard that they were making this film without Jodie Foster. Her performance last time was so memorable and perfect that I truly didn't think that this film could succeed without her. Then, I heard that they cast Julianne Moore in her place and was not nearly as nervous. Moore is a gifted actress who could pull something like this off, I thought, and I was right. Moore is excellent in this film, bringing to life a 10 years older Clarice Starling, somewhat more vulnerable, but more experienced. Hopkins is awesome as usual, but really, we have come to expect that from him. The film is beautifully directed and edited by Ridley Scott, and the grand sweeping shots of Florence help to create a visually stunning film. Hans Zimmer's musical score is also excellent combining the fear of the serial killer that is Hannibal Lecter, with the sophisticated beauty of his tastes. Gary Oldman turns in an adequate performance, although the Mason in the book is more scary than cartoonish, and in this film, he is pretty much a villian from a Scooby Doo show. We could use less of him and more Starling-Lecter time. The build up is excellent and the film may not be as excellent as Silence of the Lambs, but it is more fun. Clearly, Scott, and Hopkins are having fun. Quotes like "goody goody" "okey dokey" and his answering of a cell phone to talk to Clarice for the first time are classic Lecter. This film is also not nearly as scary as the first film, mainly due to the fact that you are not afraid of what Hannibal will do to Clarice. You know he doesn't want to kill her, so there really is no suspense there. They even managed to change the ending of the film to reflect the general tone of the book, without the unbelievable result between Starling and Lecter, and yes, it certainly leaves open for another sequel. It is definitely an above average sequel and is truly worth an invitation to dinner.

Cast Away is a decent film about the survivor of a plane crash. Tom Hanks proves his acting ability once more in a distinguished career, as he has over an hour of screen time by himself, with no actor to play off of and no musical score in the background. Such a feat is nearly impossible to pull off without strong acting abilities. The film is a little long, but the crash scene is very hauntingly real and the performance by Hanks is worth seeing.

This movie will be enjoyable to both fans of the long running show and newcomers to the X-Files world. Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny both turn in strong performances and the story is classic X-Files. Definitely worth a watch. Hopefully Carter will build upon this feature debut to create a film franchise from the hit TV show.